SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 2

[spoonman]

^ Where did you hear about this project? Curious to know how close it is to construction.

[tyleraf]

I found it on the architect's website and there are references to it on the Port of San Diego's website. From what I read it seems that it will go before the California Coastal Commission alongside the convention center expansion, although I may be mistaken.

[spoonman]

Originally Posted by tyleraf

I found it on the architect's website and there are references to it on the Port of San Diego's website. From what I read it seems that it will go before the California Coastal Commission alongside the convention center expansion, although I may be mistaken.

Thanks.

I dug around on the Port's website, and it appears the developer has already done geological testing of the soil, etc. Seems that this project will take off once it gains approval, unless they are waiting for construction of the convention center to commence first.

[mello]

Regarding redeveloping the Sports Arena and vacant land around Sea World. I'm sure zoning variances would be used to build higher than 30 feet on those sites. Look at Marina Del Rey and Playa Vista both in the City of LA and those areas were upzoned for increased density. I don't see why we can't do that here.

And if the aerospace companies dumped toxic waste way back in the 40's and 50's off of what is now Sea World Drive that is a long time ago, I'm sure it is ready to go for residential construction. If it was 70's and 80's different story.

(Chargers Stadium?) Why do some articles say Spanos is willing to put in 200 million of his own money along with the same amount from the NFL Stadium Fund and others say he is only putting in 100 million?? The latter figure is an absolute joke and frankly I think if the Spanos family came out and said they are willing to part with 400 million to get this done they would garner the respect of the community and get this process rolling much more quickly.

[tyleraf]

Mello: The 200 million is an old number from last year. Most recently the Spanos family has said that they are only willing to pay 100 million which is absurd since they make the majority of the money off of the chargers.

[mello]

Originally Posted by tyleraf

Mello: The 200 million is an old number from last year. Most recently the Spanos family has said that they are only willing to pay 100 million which is absurd since they make the majority of the money off of the chargers.

How can they think the citizens of the City/County plus any elected officials will take them seriously if they are only willing to put in a measly 100 million. That amount of Money in 2014 dollars is a pittance when you think stadiums at least cost 900 million to 1.3 billion to construct.

[Leo the Dog]

Lets just make LA an offer: you can have the Chargers and we get the Clippers.

41 home games versus 8 home games in the East Village. $1 Billion for a under utilized football stadium in DTSD...or $350 million for a state of the art arena that will be used for all concerts year round? Open up Mission Valley with transit oriented development on the old Q site, or let it sit empty most of the year?

[XtremeDave]

Originally Posted by mello

Regarding redeveloping the Sports Arena and vacant land around Sea World. I'm sure zoning variances would be used to build higher than 30 feet on those sites. Look at Marina Del Rey and Playa Vista both in the City of LA and those areas were upzoned for increased density. I don't see why we can't do that here.

The Coastal Height Limit is a voter-passed zoning law, which applies to all of San Diego west of I-5 (excluding Downtown). According to this presentation from the City, any variances have to be approved by the voters. Good luck getting San Diego NIMBYs to approve it.

It's the worst law in San Diego.

[SDfan]

^^ Correct. Sea World had to pass a voter initiative allow developments taller than 30 feet back in 1998. The Midway District would need a similar initiative to pass.

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by mello

Regarding redeveloping the Sports Arena and vacant land around Sea World. I'm sure zoning variances would be used to build higher than 30 feet on those sites. Look at Marina Del Rey and Playa Vista both in the City of LA and those areas were upzoned for increased density. I don't see why we can't do that here.

Not that this matters but I'm pretty sure Marina Del Rey is a county island. It does not fall within LA City limits. Residents there don't pay city property tax.

[Bertrice]

Originally Posted by XtremeDave

The Coastal Height Limit is a voter-passed zoning law, which applies to all of San Diego west of I-5 (excluding Downtown). According to this presentation from the City, any variances have to be approved by the voters. Good luck getting San Diego NIMBYs to approve it.

It's the worst law in San Diego.

the height law definitely saved the beach communities from 70's era high rise crap. but the midway area could use something like that.

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by Bertrice

the height law definitely saved the beach communities from 70's era high rise crap. but the midway area could use something like that.

Agreed. As much as I would like to amend the current law, it did save San Diego from a lot of shitty architecture.

[spoonman]

Does anyone know what the height limits would be for Barrio Logan? That area may be spared from the coastal height rule, and I believe also falls outside of the FAA's 500ft height limit. Would be neat to have some nice high rises by the bridge.

In other news, Doug Manchester's office and condo infill development on the UT site in Mission Valley is slowly moving forward, and is expected to be completed in summer 2016. Here is the article and rendering.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblog...mixed-use-dev/

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by spoonman

Does anyone know what the height limits would be for Barrio Logan? That area may be spared from the coastal height rule, and I believe also falls outside of the FAA's 500ft height limit. Would be neat to have some nice high rises by the bridge.

The only places along the coast that get an exception to the height limit ordinance are downtown, Little Italy, UCSD, any military property, and I believe - Sea World. Aside from that, no go. Barrio Logan may have some exceptions, but I think the most you're going to realistically crank out of there is 4-5 stories max.

[HurricaneHugo]

That Hilton Hotel expansion is ugly.

Should have just made the original taller...

[eburress]

Originally Posted by spoonman

Does anyone know what the height limits would be for Barrio Logan? That area may be spared from the coastal height rule, and I believe also falls outside of the FAA's 500ft height limit. Would be neat to have some nice high rises by the bridge.

In other news, Doug Manchester's office and condo infill development on the UT site in Mission Valley is slowly moving forward, and is expected to be completed in summer 2016. Here is the article and rendering.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblog...mixed-use-dev/

I think this is a pretty nice project! Manchester has taken a lot of heat over the years, but I've actually liked a lot of what they've attempted to build, here in SD and also in Austin.

[SDCAL]

Originally Posted by eburress

I think this is a pretty nice project! Manchester has taken a lot of heat over the years, but I've actually liked a lot of what they've attempted to build, here in SD and also in Austin.

I have to respectfully disagree.

His navy broadway plan is a disgrace.

One of the only urban premier undeveloped sites on the west coast waterfront and he offers-up non-descript, bland mid-rise towers with no creativity and no vision on what is arguably the most important undeveloped parcel of land in our city.

He deserves the heat he has received and more if he's allowed to defile that extremely important site in such a mediocre way.

[Derek]

Yet, here we are 7 years later with no plans whatsoever for that site.

[Chapelo]

Some renderings of the new Irvine Company project in UTC (at Executive Drive and Judicial), La Jolla Centre III.

It will be 14 stories (306,000 ft²), and doesn't look very different from La Jolla Commons. It was designed by Pei Cobb Freed and Partners (if you can believe it). Guess UTC isn't getting any real height any time soon

http://www.irvinecompanyoffice.com/v...centre-iii-241

[WonderlandPark]

I kinda like it, its nice and big for the area, I know its just a box, but its a pretty nice box, devil is in the details, how the curtain wall works, glazing quality, ext.